Fact or Fiction? With IoT It’s Not Always Clear

From smart shoes to an intelligent toilet, IoT devices sound like science fiction! But, these are real devices, that can have real vulnerabilities. Find out how to stay one step ahead and secure yourself against threats.

The New York Times profiled the Tusheti Network Project, a solar-powered wireless network that brought broadband Internet access to Tusheti, a beautiful but very remote region of the Greater Caucasus Mountains in the Republic of Georgia. The work was extra challenging thanks to the difficult terrain and unwieldy nature of loads that had to be brought up by packhorses. Read the Tusheti Case Study to learn more about the project, which aimed to provide a way for the people of Tusheti to build opportunities while preserving their local heritage, traditions, and ways of life.

Resources

Policy and Regulatory Considerations

Community networks need policy and regulatory assistance in some countries to get started. You can check out three of our Policy Briefs here. They focus on critical issues that help the tech and hard work a reality:

Innovations in Spectrum Management: Enabling community networks and small operators to connect the unconnected (English) (French) (Spanish)

WNDW is a free book about designing, implementing, and maintaining low-cost wireless networks.

Help us #SwitchItOn!

At RightsCon 2018 Access Now and the Internet Society released the joint statement calling for an open Internet that includes everyone. Support our call to the nations of the world to #SwitchItOn and #KeepItOn.

New Projects We're Launching with Our Partners

Argentina

The Internet Society is supporting the creation of local community infrastructure to create a self-sustainable community network that connects the villages of El Cuy, Aguada Guzman, and Cerro Policia. Planning, installation, and operation will be discussed, agreed to, and led by the local community.

Zimbabwe

The Internet Society is supporting the nongovernmental organization Murambinda Works to build a wireless network to connect schools, health centers, and commercial centers. We have conducted a site survey with the team and are working on plans to deploy with the Murambinda team.

Kyrgyzstan

The Internet Society is working in cooperation with the Kyrgyzstan government, the regulator, the ISP community, the ISOC Kyrgyz Chapter, and civil society and academia to identify a community in need. We expect to see deployment plans firm up soon. Stay tuned!

Community networks provide a sustainable solution to address the connectivity gaps that exist in urban, remote, and rural areas around the world. In Africa, where these gaps are more evident, a recent survey was able to identify 37 community networks initiatives in 12 African countries, of which 25 are considered active.

The objective of the summit is to promote the creation and growth of Community Networks, increase collaboration between community network operators in the region and to provide an opportunity for them to engage with other stakeholders.

Including Indigenous voices in the decisions and solutions that shape the Internet is a critical part of closing the connectivity gap in rural and remote communities throughout North America.

The Indigenous Connectivity Summit is a unique event that focuses on ensuring Indigenous communities can connect themselves to fast, affordable and sustainable Internet. Themed on connecting the last 1,000 miles, this year’s event in Inuvik, Northwest Territories will highlight unique northern connectivity challenges and showcase success stories of Community Networks around the globe to help inspire solutions to improve Internet access for all. We’ll also explore themes including community development and sustainability in a two-day series of panels, presentations and discussions.

The 2018 Indigenous Connectivity Summit is an initiative of the Internet Society, University of Alberta, First Mile Connectivity Consortium, the Town of Inuvik, and Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

New Projects We're Launching with Our Partners

Here are some of the amazing community networking projects and partners we work with around the world that connect communities. We support them through direct project funding, small fellowships, grants, and joint training events. Our mantra is For the Community, With the Community, By the Community. See the map of the countries we are currently working in or supporting projects in!

APC

APC has been involved in community networks around the world for over a decade, and are key partners.

COMSATS Internet Services

Internet Society has partnered with COMSATS Internet Services to connect a rural community near Multan city, in the Punjab province. The project includes deployment of a wireless network together with training for the community that will enable users to access the benefits of the Internet, providing them with opportunities for social development and inclusion.

Digital Empowerment Foundation

India DEF and the Internet Society created the Wireless Communities Project (W4C) nearly eight years ago. What was once a “back of the napkin” idea turned into real projects in India led by the excellent team of experts and partners at DEF and in partner locations.

Please see DEF-ISOC report on community networks in India and recommendations to assist their development.

Nepal Wireless Project

Nepal Wireless Project is a non-profit initiative located in the remote rural areas of Nepal. It was started in 2002 to bring communication services to the villages of the Myagdi district and to find ways to bridge the digital divide between the urban and rural areas of Nepal.

NYCMesh

Rhizomatica

Rhizomatica began in 2009 as a quest to make alternative telecommunications infrastructure possible for people around the world dealing with oppressive regimes, the threat of natural disaster, or the reality of living in a place deemed too poor or too isolated to cover. The Internet Society supports their efforts in Central and South America to develop networks to connect more people in Mexico, and Central and South America.

SFBay

SF-Bay Area Chapter’s project,”Bridging California’s Rural/Urban Digital Divide with Mobile Broadband“, is collecting data on mobile broadband performance in rural areas and comparing that performance to what mobile providers are claiming they’re delivering. Data collected will help drive policy to get rural areas more affordable, robust and reliable access, which is crucial for AgTech solutions and for driving the rural economy.

Tusheti, Georgia

The Internet Society partnered with its Georgian Chapter and several Georgian Internet organisations to connect the remote and mountainous region of Tusheti to the Internet. The project was launched in September 2017 opening new opportunities for tourism and cultural preservation, and providing an essential communication channel for healthcare and potential emergency situations. Read the case study for more information.

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